Wall construction



July 28, 1942.

P. lE. KNUDSEN WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 29, 1.939

5 sheets-skien 1 BY o E ATTRNEY 5 Sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1959 INVENTQR 5 E D m Wam K A EM July 2s, 1942. vP, E. KNUpSEN `2,291,388

WALL CONSTRCTION Filed' Dec. 29; 1939 Figui 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f//////////l////////// ///\\L if war/f f 72 ,721,11 76 76' 'l 7 5 71/ l E 4s ATTO`RNEY.

' Julyv28, 1942. P. E. KNUDsEN 2,291,388

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 29, l151:59 '5 sheets-sheet 5 F'lq. Z- 1 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 28, 1942 WALL CONSTRUCTION Percy E. Knudsen, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application December 29, 1939, Serial No. 311,560

Claims.

The present invention relates to walls for buildings and it has particular relation to a jamb construction for panels of glass blocks disposed in an opening in a wall.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved jamb structure which can readily be disposed accurately to dene an opening in a wall.

A second object of the invention is to provide a jamb structure which can easily be caulked with a, minimum of material to provide a seal about a glass block panel.

A third object is to provide a jamb structure which effectively holds and seals the edges of the glass block panel without overlapping or concealing any substantial portion of the latter.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide a secure and durable anchorage between the edges of the glass block panel and the jamb structure deiining the opening for the panel, which anchorage will permit substantial movement of the edges of the panel without imposition of strain upon the glass blocks or upon the mortar employed as a bonding agent between the blocks.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from consideration of the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

The use of hollow glass blocks as structural elements in the fabrication of building walls has relatively recently been proposed and is now enjoying extensive application. The blocks possess the advantage of transparency or translucency and at the same time their hollow structure provides dead air chambers which greatly increase the resistance of walls fabricated therefrom to the transmission of heat. In the fabrication of a panel comprising the blocks suitably set in mortar, it is customary to provide a chase or frame of channel iron or of brick, or of a combination of the two, which chase includes a marginal groove adapted t0 receive the edge portions of the panel. In order to allow for eX- pansion or contraction of the panel with respect to the chase structure about the margins thereof, it is customary to provide cushions of cork between the edges of the blocks and the back portions of the grooves in the chases and also to pack the spaces between the margins of the panel and the sides of the grooves with oakum or other packing material.

The construction is not entirely satisfactory for a plurality of reasons. For example, assuming that it is desired to form a chase for the edge care is required in the accurate placement of the marginal bricks, in order to insure that the groove of the chase will be sufficiently clean and accurately aligned conveniently to receive the panel. Also, in a conventional chase, the main anchorage between the panel of glass blocks and the chase is provided by overlapping of the sides of the groove upon the marginal portions of the panel. This overlap is unsightly. Moreover, it is a slow and expensive operation properly to pack the space between the margins of the panel and the overlapping portions of the chase, in order to exclude air and moisture and to prevent rattling of the panel.

A common method of tying or anchoring the panel involves the disposition of thin sheet metal strips in the mortar between the joints of the brick work, the ends of the strips being allowed to project in such manner that they can be inserted in the joints between the glass blocks of the panels which are being mounted. It will be obvious that it is hard to so dispose the tie strips in the mortar in the brick work that they will properly align with the joints in the glass block panel. It is usually necessary to bend the tie strips up or down, in order t0 elect such alignment. This increases the difficulty of tting cork packings between the edges of the panels and the back portion of the chase. Likewise it necessitates the use of tie strips of rather light construction. In many instances the thin metal is subject to moisture and corrosion and within a comparatively short time it more or less completely rusts out and leaves the panel without any substantial tie or anchorage in the brick work.

In accordance with the provisions of the present invention the foregoing difficulties are greatly reduced or substantially eliminated by the provision of an improved jamb structure for use in combination with glass blo-ck panels in a wall structure. This jamb structure is so formed that it can readily be disposed before the construction of the wall to provide a buck accurately aligning the edges of the masonry about the margins of the opening for the panel and at the same time provision is made for heavy anchor or tie strips that can be adjusted up or down in order to admit of aligning with the joints between the blocks of the panel. As a, further feature, provision is made for lateral movement of the anchor or tie strips in the plane of the panel to admit of expansion or contraction of the latter, without imposition of strain upon the mortar between the blocks or upon the blocks themof a glass block panel in a brick wall, considerable. selves.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals always refer to like parts.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary section taken transversely through a portion of a wall and adjacent panel, and showing in crosssection the jamb element which is disposed therebetween.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially upon the line II-II of Fig. 1.,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view' of a second form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View of a footing or sill for a panel of blocksfabricated in accordance with the Provisions of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of one form of heading suitable for use with the panel.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a second form of heading.

Figure '1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through a mullion construction embodying the jamb structure of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the anchoring element employed in anchoring a glass block to the jamb structure.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the use of the invention with a mounting bar for glass blocks, such as is illustrated in Hohl Patent 2,141,000.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line X-X of Fig. 9.

VFigure 1.1 is a sectional view of a modified form of mounting bar `to which the invention may be applied.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, a wall comprises a masonry portion I0, of brick,

stone, concrete or other material defining an opening `I I, in which is disposed a panel I2, comprising glass blocks I3. The blocks are hollow and of conventional design and include marginal shoulders I4 defining a peripheral channel I6 adapted to receive mortar or other bonding i agent I1.

Between the margins of the masonry and the margins of the panel I2 is disposed a jamb struc'- ture I3 which includes a vertical bar I9, of aluminum, steel, bronze, or other suitable material,

preferably inthe form of a sheet bent to provide vertical side walls 2i and inwardly directed marginal flanges 22 which abut the masonry I 0. The upper edges of walls ZI are inwardly and downwardly bent to provide shoulders 24, which are integral with horizontal web portion 26 and constitutes sides of a groove or channel 25.

The intermediate portion of the web is bent to provide a trapezoidal groove or channel 21 which includes converging side wall portions 28 and a connecting back portion 29. If desired, the outer face of portion 29 may be provided with anchor strips 3I which are secured thereto by welding, brazing, riveting or in any other convenient manner. are embedded in the mortar between the bricks or blocks, or in the concrete constituting the portion l5, and may be formed with openings 32 which provide keys in the mortar to make anchorage more secure.

A cork packing strip 33 disposed in channel or groove 25 admits of slight movement of the margins of the panel I2, in its own plane, but at the same time maintains the latter from outward or inward displacement. As shown in the drawings,

These strips preferably project into and i the cork strip is of such thickness as to be approximately level with the margins of the channel in which it is disposed. It will also be noted that a second cork strip 34 of lesser cross-sectional area than the strip 33 is disposed loosely in or is cemented in the trapezoidal groove 21. A layer of cement 36 may also be disposed in the peripheral channel between the shoulders of the block I3 and the strip 33. Furthermore, the strip 33 may be sealed from the atmosphere by means of packings 31 of conventional mastic or other doughlike or plastic substance, which is resistant to hardening and to the action of moisture, which packings are disposed between shoulders i4 and shoulders 24 of the jamb.

In order to provide an anchorage between the jamb structure and the panel I2 a series of strips 33 are provided. These strips, as shown, include an approximately trapezoidal rear portion 39 which is disposed in the groove or channel 21 and which is of such dimensions that slight spaces 4I are left between the edges thereof and the side wall portions 28 of the channel. This construc-l tion admits of slight forward or rearward movement of the ends of the strip in the channel, in order to accommodate for movements of the edges of the panel I2. The rear ends of the strips may be abutted against the cork strip 34 and the strip may also include shoulder portions 42 which engage the face of the cork strip 33. It will be observed that the dimensions of the cork strips 33 and 34 are such that when the shoulders 42 engage the surface of the strip 33 the edges of the portion 39 are properly spaced with respect to the side portions 28 of the channel 21, in order to admit of slight movement of the strips 38 in the plane of the panel I2.

The forward portion of the strips 38, as will be observed, are preferably formed with openings 43 which provide keys in the mortar between the blocks I3. These openings may be of such dimensions as to provide only narrow connecting portions 44 between the side portions of the strips. The openings not only provide keys in the mortar, but also tend to prevent the transmission of heat through the metal from one side of Vthe panel I2 to the other. It is to be understood that the strips 38 may be of sufficient width to reach entirely across from one side of the panel to the other, or if preferred, they may be relatively short, for example, 15 to 16 inches in length. However, they may be of considerable thickness, for example of 1A; or even greater thickness. It is thus apparent that they are substantially different from conventional flexible strips, and will not readily rust out even when exposed for considerable periods of time to the action of any moisture which may accidentally contact therewith. At the same time they can be raised or lowered to bring them into register with the joints between the blocks.

In the fabrication of a wall it is to be under stood that the bars I8 may be set up to provide bucks. The masonry in the portion Il! is then layed up about the flanges 22 and during the laying the anchorage strips 3| are embedded in the mortar in such manner as permanently to secure the jambs in position with respect to masonry. The cork strips 33 and 34 may be cemented in place before the jambs are set or may be inserted in sections as the blocks are set.

In the fabrication of the panel I2 the glass blocks I3 are laid in courses, in accordance with conventional practice and the side margins of the outer blocks are brought into abutting relation with the cork 33, but are not substantially overlapped by shoulders 24. The mortar nlling 36 may also be supplied. As each tier or course of blocks is laid an anchorage or tie strip 38 is secured in position. In order to accomplish this, openings for the end portions 39 of the strips may be formed in the cork 33. The strips 38 are preferably inserted while they are disposed in vertical or in .inclined plane and are then rotated, in order to bring them into horizontal position, in which position the trapezoidal portion 39 will prevent retraction of the ends 0f the strips from the groove or channel 21. The shoulders 42 preferably are brought into abutment with the cork strip 33, in order to insure that the sides of the portion 39 will be properly spaced with respect to the side walls 28, and thus admit of slight movements of the strips 38. Subsequently the mortar is filled into the channel between the shoulders I4 of the blocks and a second block is superposed upon the iirst block. This procedure is repeated until the fabrication of the panel is completed,

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 3 the jamb element 45 anchored in the wall by strips 45a includes a metallic strip bent to provide marginal flanges 46 adapted to bear against the vertical sides f the opening in the wall. These flanges are integral with vertical side portions 41, which in turn are integral with shoulder portions 48, dening a shallow channel 49, which has a bottom portion I. The bottom portion is also bent to provide a longitudinally extending groove, or channel 52 having vertical sides 53 and an interconnecting bottom portion 54. For purposes of preventing condensation of moisture upon the inner of the sides 41y the latter may be provided with a covering strip 56 of wood or other non-conductive material which is secured in position by means of suitable screws 51 threaded into side portion.

A strip of cork 58, felt, rubber or the like, may be disposed in the channel 49 and provides a resilient backing between the edges of a panel of glass blocks 59 and the jamb element 45. I.

Packings 69 of mastic or the like may, also, be disposed between the edges of the blocks and the shoulders 48 of the jamb 45. The panel may be reinforced by wires Sia embedded in the joints between the blocks.

Anchors for securing the panel in position involve strips 6! shown in detail in Figure 8 and comprising a body portion 62 preferably of fairly heavy metal, e. g. a strip of about 11-0 to 1/3 inch in thickness, which body portion is adapted to be embedded in the cement between contiguous, vertically alignable blocks. In order to increase the strength of the anchor between the cement and the anchors, the body portion of the latter may be provided with openings 63 in which the cement or mortar employed between the blocks may form keys. The openings 63 also tend to interrupt the continuity of the metal constituting the anchor strips and thus helps to reduce heat conduction through the meta-l, 'Ihe extremity of the anchoring element contiguous to the jamb is cut and bent to provide laterally-projecting lugs 64, which, when the anchoring strips are in position, bear against the face of the cork strip 58 adjacent to the edge of the panel 59. The cuts forming the lugs 64, also, provide tabs or lugs 66 which are bent perpendicularly to the lugs 64 and to body 62 and are designed to slide between the side wall portions of the channel 52 in the jamb element 45. Preferably, the length of the portion of the anchoring element within the channel 52 is so adjusted as to leave a substantial space between the end of the latter and the bottom portion 54 of the channel. This adv mits of substantial thermal expansion and contraction of the block panel 59 without contact of the extremity of the anchoring strip with the bottom of the channel and without imposing strain upon the strip.

Figure 4 illustrates a conventional method of mounting the lower extremities of the jamb elements upon a sill or foundation along the bottom of a panel. The construction may conveniently include a so-called shearlock bar 68, which may be secured upon sill or foundation 69 by means of screws or bolts 1|. The bar is of such dimensions and the extremity is so disposed as to project into the channel 52 of the jamb element, thus securing the bottom of the latter from displacement from the opening. The shearlock bar may conveniently extend the entire width of the panel and may be embedded in the mortar upon which the panel rests, to prevent displacement of the bottom of the panel by thrusts exerted perpendicularly to the panel.

Suitable construction for securing the head portion of the jamb element is disclosed in Fig. 5 and includes threaded bolts 12 extending through side portions 41 of the jambs and having heads 13 bearing against the sides of angle irons 14, which provide a portion of a lintel structure for the opening. Bolts 12 may be secured in position by means of nuts 16 threaded thereon. A strip 16a of cork is secured upon the lower face of the lintel adjacent to the upper edge of the panel. The space between angles 14 and the panel may be packed with oakum 16h.

A second form of the head structure is shown in Fig. 6 and includes a lintel bar 11 of I beam or any other convenient cross-sectional form. Angles 18 and 19 are secured to the bottom of the bar by means of rivets or screw fastenings 8! and downwardly projecting arms 82 of the angles extend into the channel 52 of the jamb element 45, thus serving to lock the upper extremity of the element from displacement.

Usually considerable space is left between the lintel and the upper edge of the panel of blocks, in order to admit of deection of the lintel without imposing strains upon the panel and also to admit of expansion or contraction of the panel itself with varying temperatures. In order to close this opening, nishing or sealing strips 83 may be provided. These are of angular crosssecticn and include a horizontal ange 84, which may be secured to the bottom face of the lintel 11. They further include a vertical ange 96 adapted to overlap the upper margin of the panel. If desired, the flange may be provided with ornamental beads or lutings 81. Mastic 81a may seal the space between the panel and bead 81.

A convenient form of decorative and closure element for the opposite side of the panel includes an angle member 88 appropriately secured by screws 89 to the lintel structure. The vertical flange or leg 9| of the member conveniently everlaps the upper margin cf the panel. A finishing strip 92 of arcuate cross-section is provided with flanges 93 adapted to bear against the edges of the element 88 and may be secured in position by means of screws 94 threaded through a shoulder 96 formed by an oiset in the vertical leg or flange 9 I.

A vertical mullion adapted to be disposed between contiguous panels of glass blocks is shown in Fig. '7 and includes a pair of jamb elements 9S identical in cross-sectional contour to the element 45 shown in Fig. 3. These elements are disposed with the marginal flanges 99 thereof in abutting relation and are secured in that position by means ofv strips ||J| of C cross-section, constituting locking elements. A covering Illia of wood or other insulative material may also be placed over one or both faces of the mullion. The two jamb elements may be reinforced by a bar of steel or iron, or other strong durable metal, including a connecting bar or web H32, which along its edges is welded or otherwise securedA to intermediate portions or webs |03 of channel bars Hifi. The channel bars are also provided with flanges |01, which bear against the portions 19 of the jambs. In the assembly of the mullion the elements 98 may be assembled as indicated in the drawings upon opposite sides of the reinforcing bar |02. The locking strips IGI are then slid longitudinally over the flanges 99, thus securing the latter together. In order to prevent longitudinal displacement of the reinforcing bar, rivets or bolts (not shown) may be passed through the portions 54 of the jamb elements and the web portion |02 of the reinforcing bar.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is shown the application oi the invention toa panel embodying a brass, bronze, aluminuml or steel mounting strip of the type shown in Hohl Patent 2,141,000. In this construction, jambs IB ofthe type shown in Fig. 3 is disposed in an opening, in a building wall ii and may be anchored in position by metallic strips ||2 which are firmly embedded in the masonry of the wall. The glass blocks ||3 are assembled as a panel with mounting strips |115 between their contiguous edges and providing locking means holding them in assembled relation. The edges of the panel of blocks are spaced from the jambs by means of strips of cork or other yielding but springy material, which are seated between the shoulders of the block and the shoulders of the jamb.

The strips or bars ||6 at their extremities are provided with anchor elements I8 which may be integral tongues or projections upon the bars, or as shown in the drawings, may comprise straps of relatively heavy metal secured upon the bars by means of screws or rivets I9. The extremities of these straps project into grooves, |2| in the jambs H to prevent displacement of the panel from the opening.

The construction shown in corresponds to that shown in Figs. 9 and 10, except that the mcuntingbar |25'between the blocks |26 comprises a simple strip of metal having the edges bent into rolls |21, constituting beads against which the shoulders |28 of the blocks are adapted to seat. These beads possess a certain degree of resiliency and permit the blocks to expand and contract without imposing excessive strain upon them. Resiliency of the beads can be enhanced by leaving the edges of the strip spaced as indicated at |29 from the main body. The anchorage element for the bar |25 is indicated at |3| and operates in the same way as strip H8 in Figs. 9 and l0.

The forms of the invention herein shown and described are given by way of example. Obviously, numerous modications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A building construction embodying a wall having an opening formed therein and vertical jambs framing the sides of the opening, a panel of glass blocks disposed in the opening, said jambs being bars of sheet metal of a shape to provide side walls and interconnectingY webs, said side walls and webs constituting channels approximating in width the thickness of the paneland being disposed in slightly spaced relation with respect to the margins ofY the panel, the webs being further of a shape to provide medianly disposed longitudinally-extending grooves in the bottoms of the channels, anchor elements disposed in the horizontal joints between contiguous vertically-aligning marginal blocks in the panel and having end portions projecting in said grooves, the projecting extremities of the anchor elements fitting loosely into the grooves to permit; free movement of the elements to accommodate for movements of the panel in its own plane, but preventing displacement from the opening.

2. In a construction as dened in claim 1 in which the space within the channel between the web portion of the latter and the adjacent edge of the panel is lled with a resilient packing,

3. A construction as defined in claim l in which the space within the first-mentioned channel is lled with resilient packing and the anchor elements are provided with shoulders bearing upon said packing.

4. A construction as defined in claim 1 in which additional anchor elements are secured to the upper face of the opening formed in the wall and project downwardly into said channels whereby to anchor the upper extremities of the channel in position.

5. A building construction embodying a wall having an opening formed therein and vertical jambs framing the sides of the opening, a panel of glass blocks disposed in the opening, said vertical elements being bars of sheet metal of a shape to provide side walls and interconnecting webs forming channels approximating in width the thickness of'the panel and being disposed in slightly spaced relation with respect to the margins of the panel, the webs being further of a shape to provide medianly disposed longitudinally-extending grooves in the bottoms of the channels, the said side walls being further bent backwardly to provide edges resting against the sides of the opening in the building wall, anchor elements disposed in the horizontal joints between contiguous vertical-aligning marginal blocks in the panel and having end portions pro jecting into the grooves, the projecting extremities of the anchor elements fitting loosely into the grooves to permit free movement of the elements to accommodate for movements of the panel in its own plane, but preventing displace- PERCY E. KNUDSEN. 

